Steve Oppenheimer for Georgia PSC out-raises incumbent

Steve Oppenheimer is a retired dentist and former small business owner, the proud father of three adult sons, and a long-time community activist focused on energy and national security. Steve lives in Sandy Springs, Ga. (PRNewsFoto/Friends of Steve ...

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Steve Oppenheimer is a retired dentist and former small business owner, the proud father of three adult sons, and a long-time community activist focused on energy and national security. Steve lives in Sandy Springs, Ga. (PRNewsFoto/Friends of Steve ...

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga., Nov. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Midnight Friday marked the final fundraising report leading up to the Nov. 7 election. Steve Oppenheimer, a retired dentist and former small business owner and District 3 candidate for the Public Service Commission disclosed about $238,000 total raised in his report with the State Ethics Commission. This report gives Oppenheimer a $10,000 advantage over the incumbent Commissioner Chuck Eaton, and makes him the first challenger in years to out-raise an incumbent.

"I'm very grateful to have received such strong support from a wide cross section of Georgia voters who are concerned about having a commissioner who represents them and wants to put the public back in the Public Service Commission. Republicans, Independents and Democrats alike are all tired of the status quo on the commission, and they are looking for someone who can work to restore trust and transparency to the office that regulates our power bills and determines the future of Georgia's energy policy," Oppenheimer said. "Good energy policy isn't partisan, and my number one concern is making the decisions that help put our families first. I will be the independent common sense voice for the people of Georgia, one that will fight for lower power bills, increase 21st century energy jobs and ban lobbyist gifts."

The incumbent Commissioner Chuck Eaton raised $45,000 during the final stretch of the campaign with the majority of his support coming from utility company lobbyists and lawyers –– including a noteworthy $5,000 contribution from an out of state utility lobbyist –– according to his report with the State Ethics Commissions

Of the money raised, Oppenheimer spent $70,000 on media buys, making him one of the first PSC candidates in recent memory to air televised commercials. Incumbent Eaton, in contrast, spent over $43,000 of the $45,000 raised on a notorious voter-irritant –– robo calls.

Steve Oppenheimer is a retired dentist and former small business owner, the proud father of three adult sons, and a long-time community activist focused on energy and national security. Steve lives in Sandy Springs, Ga.